Watery eyes can be caused by an imbalance between tear production and loss due to external factors such as wind or allergies. Dry eye is another common cause, and treatment aims to prevent irritation rather than stop watering. Allergy medication and eye drops can help.
Watery or watery eyes occur when the body produces tears too quickly. There is usually a balance between tear production and tear loss, but external influences such as bright sun and strong winds can cause tears to evaporate, disrupting the balance and causing tearing. Various eye disorders, internal or external, can also upset this balance and lead to excessively watery eyes. For example, various airborne allergens can lead to high levels of tear production, as well as foreign objects or eyelashes in the eye. Also, highly emotional situations can lead to weeping, another condition in which the eyes produce tears at a higher rate than necessary.
Allergies, especially to various airborne allergens, such as mold, dust, dander or pollen, are among the most important causes of watery eyes. Small particles of these allergens get into the eyes, causing watery eyes and, in many cases, redness and itching or otherwise irritation. Sometimes, the wind can blow larger particles, such as a plant fragment or an eyelash, into the eye; this also causes watery eyes, often lasting until the object can be removed. It’s also possible for such objects to cause minor cuts or abrasions on the eye, often causing long-term tearing and discomfort.
In some cases, tearing can be caused by environmental factors unrelated to allergens or particles. Wind, cold or intense sunlight can also cause watery eyes. Wind and sun, in particular, can increase the rate at which tears evaporate. The eyes then tear at a faster rate to maintain eye moisture.
Another common cause of watery and watery eyes is a condition known as dry eye. The eyes of individuals with the condition fail to produce basal tears – the normal tears that are constantly being produced for lubrication purposes – at a fast enough rate. Dry eyes, therefore, are not as well lubricated and can become irritated more easily than well-lubricated eyes. The irritation triggers the production of “reflex tears” such as those produced in response to dust, allergens or weather conditions. Individuals with dry eyes, therefore, may experience long, uncomfortable periods of dry eyes followed by irritation and excessive tearing.
The eyes typically water to expel some irritant, so treating watery eyes rarely aims to actually stop the watering. It is, instead, aimed at preventing irritation in the first place. Various allergy medications can reduce irritation from allergens and thus reduce tearing. Eye drops can keep dry eyes lubricated, making irritation less likely and preventing excessive tearing.
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